Hohner is one of the leading accordion manufacturers worldwide and has been crafting accordions since 1830.
These devices feature one row of ten buttons with different note pairings for “in” and “out” bellows. Bass notes and chords are played using your left hand.
Diatonic accordions have long been used in folk and traditional music. More recently, they are also frequently seen being utilized in modern musical styles that incorporate elements from this tradition.
Origins
Classical and Romantic period free-reed accordions such as the bandoneon or concertina were popular parlor, chamber, and accompanying instruments. Today’s accordion, with chord keys and melodic keys combined into one squeezebox was first developed by Viennese inventor Cyrillus Demian in 1829.
Accordions featuring one or more rows of buttons on their treble section are known as diatonic accordions; those featuring two such rows are known as chromatic.
Some chromatic accordions feature an unusual bass system known as Helikon, featuring bass reeds that are up to an inch longer than usual and produce low pitched notes similar to tuba notes. You’ll find Helikon on Styrian models as well as piano accordions, with use primarily occurring in Basque folk music.
Mechanics
The accordion uses metal reeds to produce sounds. Each button on its keyboard corresponds to two or more reeds that vibrate in unison to generate its unique tone.
Some accordions used for musette have two sets of reeds; one set responds to bellows direction while the other always produces the same note regardless. This type of accordion is known as bisonoric.
Chromatic accordions offer another variety of instrument. Much like diatonic instruments, the chromatic types feature keys corresponding to various notes on a chromatic scale; when any key is pressed it activates a lever system which lifts pallets that allow air flow between voices; this allows each voice to play its notes accordingly.
Keys
The single row diatonic accordion, commonly referred to as a melodeon (see Peter Pot’s beautiful instrument above), uses one ten button row as its keyboard. Since it only produces notes from certain scales (C being one example) without sharps or flats being played back, piano accordions may contain multiple voices; five being not uncommon.
Treble accordions are popularly used in English dance and Morris music. They usually feature one to three treble rows and 8 basses.
Garmon or Anglo Concertina accordions are popularly found in Irish/Celtic music and typically feature two specialized layouts on either side of the accordion that only come in specific keys, like G.
Scales
On accordions with two or more rows of bass buttons, the right hand keyboard typically features a diatonic scale with pairs of keys to give major and minor triads in the home key as well as dominant and diminished sevenths; some models even incorporate converter switches for additional melodic possibilities.
Double-action instruments feature two sets of bass buttons tuned an octave higher, enabling one note to resonate across five octaves. Some models also incorporate “couplers”, which activate second set of reeds pitched an octave lower for tremulant effects.
Some single-action accordions are chromatic, such as the melodeons popular among English sea shanties and country dance. Their uniform button layout makes them simpler than their bisonoric counterparts to play.
Techniques
Push or pull an accordion button and the bellows compress or expand air, vibrating reeds vibrate creating sound, with direction of bellows movement determining the note played; different reed sets producing differing sounds and tones.
Wet tuned accordions typically produce richer and louder sounds compared to dry tuned instruments; wet tuning is ultimately down to personal choice and depends on which sound is preferred by you.
The accordion is an incredible instrument and offers incredible musical possibilities, from classical music through jazz and rock. No matter which style you play on it, developing strong basic technique will ensure fast progress and ease.